Collator



June 10, 1952 N. G. HERNBLAD 2,599,829

COLLATOR Filed April 18, 1947 Q 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 1952 N. G. HERNBLAD 2,59

COLLATOR Filed April 18, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1952 N. G. HERNBLAD COLLATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 18, 1947 June 10, 1952 v N. G. HERNBLAD' 2,599,829

' COLLATOR Filed April 18, 1947 v 1 9 4 Sheets-Sheet '4 Patented June 10, 1952 --Nils G. -Hernblad,-Long Island City, N. Y.,.assignor :to American. Type Founders',1 lnc., a corporation ljof. New Jersey -A'pplicathn April 'l8, 1947, Serial N 0. 742,328

12. Claims. 111

t'Ihis-xinvention relates .:to 'collators and; prirmaiilyatozdevicesriof this typeidesigned and in- --.-;tendedltoebe.usedzin businessfofiices forthergroup- :1 ing' aofcsheets.

Machines-21501. collatingisheets: have heretofore been designed; suggestedyand placed in use but, onitheumostspart; such machines have: beenpf atheracomplicatedsdesigm anclzhave-p furthermore tbeen: generallyzvof .zsuchztcharacterj;that" they hire- :r;'quently::aceased toriunction wsatisfactorilysz after elativelmshortmeriods of: 1158501 :wererunableato unction isatisfactori'lygin:collating sheets 01 1061- ain grades;5types::and-. weightscf paper.

ilt-is well k-nowmto those enga ed in thezmanu- E: ifacturez and operation :of? machines. fori-feeding sheets that it is azldifficultrmatter to-wfeedgzcertain ::types" of; sheets under: anyconditionsxand..alsdthat casheetsnwhichsmay be zfed'swithoutz difiicultyunder favorable-conditions= may; be fed; only' withi difiiulty; or= notxatell; under: unfavorable conditions. heets ofi certain :gradestmay be'fed satisfactorily ---.'.di-flieulty after they r have r been printed. The ;f.eedingof certaintypesof sheets-maybe rendered :a:;-most-; diflicult by;unfavorablewchanges in atmosz'pheric cOnditionsand-theypresence of electric .phargesr'commonly: knownvas static. A collator toabezefiective. must, of course, be operative with grades of paperiunder all. operating conditions nd one -reason1why.-machines. of :this type have not-heretofore been widely used andzhand collating is stillzlargely practiced-,- is because of the-fact ---;that.--such machines-as have heretofore-been em- .aployedihavetnot operated satisfactorily underall workingconditions.

l-l Theobjrect of the present.- invention to :pro-

a. collatingsmachineof simple character, hich=is:.compact,- may. be fabricated. at low-cost, sktdurable. 2' and 1 which willeffectively .feed and perategunder allxordinary-working: conditions. Thexleadingedges of the various sheets which. are .-;z-;simultaneously:-fed at a-single operation ofet'he -;.-machine are brought togethen-or approximately cdzogether; at: a: station. readily accessiblettcsthe perator. of the-machine and in such mannerthat hes:operatorv maytesimultaneously agrasp. rallof he; sheets thus-fed. :It hasqheretofore beensugestedthat'guidev-means may be. employed -vfor uidingrtoiazcommon; grasping station the leadgizedgessofa-series of sheets simultaneously fed rom; a rpluralitysof piles -to a 1 common point or station. i:.:-By such-ameanstsheets fed from a pluality. oflpilesidispo'sedin a-vertical-series -of-piles ay:.begguided: .to the point at which they-are-to eeding pf light-sheets *underscertain conditions,

grasped-shut .is. sometimes. occurs that in the 55 a .2 the movements'fof the'she'etsalong a sheet guide iseimpeded or prevented because. of "statie'and in other instances sliding movement ofthefshe ets --'up0 n eachpther causes them to cling together. One objective of the present invention'istopro- ":xvideman improved...means for insuring "that'rthe leading edges of all Tof the, sheets of a serie's simulataneously.-fed from av plurality "of" piles' 'will definitely reach a point .or stationatwhichfthey may be conveniently .graspedj 'by'ithe operator, which means is not subject to" the objections which -haven-been, heretofore -directed against -.-e-arlier.- machines- -oflthis. general type.

i-I'Ihe vertical series of pile supporting members, if..there are asubs-tantialnumber in the series; as fliers-instance-..eight;.. may. be" divided 'into""two ..-groups,- an upper group and a lower group. The "leading edges of sheets delivered simultaneously from the upper. group may be" received'upon a 29 *table andrthe tablemay'then be moved forwardly witht-the sheetsfltoithe. grasping station. The sheets of the-lower group of piles maybe received 1 upon a table. as. they are simultaneously'fed forward-and hence drop downwardly under their own :vveight and? at onlabout the end of the feeding r-.movement;-.this rocking or. tilting table; may be -.-.actuated,- torotate-about an axis and to lift the i leadingedges of the 'sheets which have: beerrdeposited-- upon itsto lthe grasping station. "Either 30 or: both: of wthese' devices may .be' employed and, wheneboth are employed, theleading edges of all .wthe-sheetsrsimultaneously fed from a substantial -:number ofpiles arranged in a vertical series may be: precisely fed to thegrasping station, quite re- ...:gard1ess: of mthe ..nature and. condition of' the msheets and theoperating. conditions .Which. exist. The invention .embod-ies a..numb.er of features 1 0f: entirely znovel and distinctive character; inr eludingan improved. sheet feedingi deviceihaving 4:0,::rubber.orteomposition sheet gripping elem'ents'of gnovel 'rformation, readilyattach'ableeand. hence -.-::r.eadi,ly replaceablerwhentthey become smooth, .hardeormtherwise ineffective. Novel..-means. is ;:=provided-.-.for: rendering the sheet feeding-l1 device associated-with any-particular .fpile sup goperativesimorderthat the sheetgripping element ":ShalLIlOt engageand! slide back. and forthlim tithe stationary sheet support when. noj'shets are I present. Gther novel .features will. beapparent. alnrthe-accompanyingdrawingsapreferred em- :bodimentof-the invention .is..il1ustrated and this r embodimentwill he described. in .dBtai1.."TIt Will U be understood that the-.inventionis ,notdimited to .r.-..-thatn form; thereof which hasbeen set forth .by of rexample rbut that, .in; adapting ".thesame 1 to the: feeding of papers ofl variousi types. and

legs I are secured to tending frame members H. parallel l2, I3,

of piles comprises piles P P in the arrangement and size, numerous changes elements may be effected.

design of its component In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus,

erating parts of the machine in different posi-- moved in order that others may be more clearly 7 observed; I l

Figure 4 is a seot'on on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a carriage forming portion of the operating mechanism;

Figures 6 and 7 are side and top plan views respectively of a preferred form of sheet feeding device;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of portion of such sheet feeding device;

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of several of the paper pile supporting members, with means for maintaining the associated pusher elements in inoperative position; and D Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9. g

The frame of the collator shown in the drawings comprises four principal upright members or legs, indicated at l0, connected by suitable bracing members to render the structure stable. 7 The upper ends of the four corner'members or parallel horizontally ex- Supported upon the members II are the four corner pieces Hi and [5 of the upper portion of the apparatus, and suitably secured to these four uprights, as by screws or by welding, are the several pile supporting platforms of a vertical series of horizontally disposed pile supporting platforms i'l upon which, respectively, may be placed piles of sheets to be collated, a series of such' piles for instance being indicated at P to P in Figure l of the drawings. The piles P, P P and P which are the uppermost four piles of the series of eight piles, may be designated piles of the upper group and the lower group P and P These piles may be positioned either by inserting them from the'front or from the rear of the machine,

the ends of the pile receiving bins being always open at the front and also open at the rear unless closed by a cover sheet or casing.

Positioned above each of the pile supports so as to be movable along a path parallel to the top sheet of each pile is a sheet feeding device, these devices being indicated at S, S S S S S S and S". Each comprises a metallic member such as that shown in detail in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The elongated, forwardly extending main portion of each sheet feeding device has transversely extending integral webs 2! at its rear end, terminating in downturned flanges or ears 22, these cars 22 being provided, respectively, with aligned circular openings 23. Extending laterally from member 20 adjacent its forward'end, in opposite directions; are arms 24 and 25, the ends of which are slotted as at 26. Rubber or composition sheet engaging and gripping elements are indicated at 21. Each of these comprises a lower portion 28 having a rounded sheet engaging undersurface, an upper portion 29, and

4 an intermediate rib 3!] connecting portion 29 to the sheet engaging portion 28, the width of the rib being substantially the same as the width of the slot 26 in the associated arm of the feeding device. A gripping element 27 may be readily assembled with one of the sheet feeding devices by inserting the'end of-rib 30 in onei'of the slots '26 and sliding the gripping element longitudinally of the arm of the feeding element until it reaches the position in which it is shown in Figure 8. When one of the gripping elements 21 becomes smooth or worn, hard or otherwise defective, it may be quickly removed and replaced by a new element. As these are the only elements which may wear or deteriorate over a long period of time, the collator may be very easily kept in serviceable condition.

Each of the feeding devices is operatively connected to means for moving it horizontally and longitudinally of the bin in which it is located on its sheet feeding and return strokes. From an inspection of Figures 1, 3 and 4 it-will be observed that the rear end of each such device is mounted upon a horizontally disposedrod, the several rods being indicated at R, R R R R Rrf, R and R", each rod passing through the aligned apertures 23 of the associated feeding device and each such device beingtherefore supported at its rear end in such manner as to be free to rotate about its support so that the principal portion of the weight of the feeding device, including the two sheet gripping elements 21 associated therewith, rests upon the top sheet of the pile over which the feeding device is to work in the operation of the machine.

As the height of each pile decreases in the operation of the machine, the sheet gripping elements of devices S, S S S S S S and S descend correspondingly each being at all times in engagement with the top sheet of the pile below. The ends of the severalrods R, R R

, R R R R and R are mounted in a reciproeating frame which includes the parallel vertically disposed upright members 33. The upper ends of these members are connected by the cross rod 34 and the lower ends are attached as by screws 35 to a carriage generally indicated atC. This carriage may be most clearly observed in Figure 5 and is seen to comprise a generally rectilinear frame which includes the U -shaped member 36 and the connecting cross member 31.

Studs 38 extending outwardly from the parallel legs or side members of the U-shaped' part 36 support rollers 39 and two of the series of four rol1ers39 rest upon each horizontal supporting rail tll'which are disposed in parallel relation and the ends of which are connected, respectively, to the upright legs ll] of the frame. Disposed above, and parallel to the supporting rails All, are the guard or confining rails 4|, which prevent dislodgment of the rollers and displacement of the carriage C The means for limiting the movements of the carriage includes the rubber cushioning members indicated at 42' and 43, respectively, which are positioned to strike the rear flanges of angle members In when the carriage is at the end of its rearward travel. The free ends of the U-shaped member 36 contact the forward legs 10 to limit the forward travel of the carriage, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. To the downwardly extending and laterally'ofiset terminal ends of the upright members. 33 of the reciprocating frame are connected the ends of connected to the upper ends of the parallel legs tioninj'which it is shown in-Figure 1, so that theficarriage Cis in its rearmost-position, likewise 1 the reciprocating frame moimted upon the earriage'andupon which the ends of the sheetfeedelementsupportingbars R; R R R R fR R 'and R are mounted. Obviously, whenthe operator presses his foot against the cross 1321*"58 'and 'moves this bar rearwardly the spring 5! will be e' rtended and the lever 36 will be rocked from fjthe position in which it is shown in Figure 1 'to ""the'position in whichit is shown in Figure 2;the

jfl'ecipro'catin'gframe 33- willbe moved forwardly 'afndithe several sheet feeding-devices will be siniultaneouslyactuated, *movingto the positions fin which they are'shown in Figure 2.

f'fThe'operation'which has just been described Q is afsheetfeedin operationand as a resultof this {operation the "top sheet of each pile will be ied 'forwardlyand out of the housing'which contains the vertical series of piles. If the leading endsof fthefSheetstarethen -grasped by-the operato r all fof them maybe readily and completely with- "jjdra'wn, whereupon the sheet-gripping elements 2'! "will descend, respectively; "and engage the next uppermost sheets of'the' several piles." "Ihe oper- "ator'willthen'release the treadle bar'fill and spring 5|,Will withdraw' the'reciprocatingirame to its i rearr'nost position, effecting the simultaneous retraction of all Of the sheetfeeding devices and restoring them to initial position.

fIrijFigure 2 of the drawings allof the'sheet' feeding devices 'are shownin'the positions" which "theyoccupy at the ends of their feeding "strokes ;.ai'id the leading ends, of the sheets whichhave just'been-projected by the feeding mechanism are shown to be collected or, gathered together at 'vvhat may be designated a collecting'station, generallyhindicated at. T, so that they may all be dil y (grasped byl thehoperator of the'machine. It -willibe' seen that the leading ends of the four uppermost sheets are supported upon amember ;;-;,;whi ch;may be designated a reciprocating table k and which is indicated by the numeral 55. The afleading: ends of the foursheets of the lowermost r ,grQupLofsheets areshown to be. resting upon a member: 156, whichmay be designated a rocking :2 table. "Ihereciprocating' table 55 moves between 'thepositions in which it is shown inFi ures 1 and 2 and derives its reciprocatory motion from he reciprocating frame33, the ends of table55 eingmounted uponhorizontally extending memsets-'51, the real. endsof which are connected to "-'-the'frame--33 by lost motion connectionseach comprising a pin affixed to the reciprocating ,'frame,-'which pin maybe the projecting end of. tarts; and which works in aslt' 59formed in "emberSL- The lower edges ofthe horizontally "Tex'tendingmembers?! rest upon rollers 60 so that these members are maintained in horizontal positions at all times but maybe freelyreciprocated "longitudinally. v

By. reason of-the lost motion connection be- ,.tween members 51] and the reciprocating frame 33; the'table' 55 wi1-l remainin retracted position as shown in" Figure 1; until the leading edges of the-upper group of sheets =to= =be fedahave Ibsen "artiallyprojectedand have droppeddownwardly oward or upon the table below. 3: thereupon; the

" table- 55 moves lijv itl'rgthe leadingredges: of the 5 sheets and these ends will be supported thereby and carriedto the 'gathering position'T.

" v The rocking table 56 willvremaiIrin ithe. hori- 'zonta1- pos'ition-in which'; it-is shown inxFigure 1 i-untiI -abOut the end {of :the feeding movement' of 0 the f-rame -and feeding device, whereuponithis table,- upon which the leading ends; ofthe sheets *of the lowermost series 'of sheets have zbeenadeposited; will -be rock'ed 'ortilted-upwardlys llpon '---comple tion of this} tilting or: upward rocking-50f "*the table the ends of the sheets o'f the lowera'group will also be -positioned hither-gatheringprograspingzone Tx The mechamsm' -fo efiecting i this orf-roeking of -thetablei 5 5 is 0f isim-ple character-and comprises a pusher element 2 tending forwardly from the carriage i C5 W hich element 62 I is adapted to strike the downturned flang' fiii of the rocking table 56 and -to cause thi's -table to tilt upwardly about the: axiscof the horizontally disposed supporting rodwfil upon 'which-it is-'- mounted. It will be observed from lan inspectionof Figure 3 that rod-'64: has' it's ends supported in the frame A of the machine .Qand passes-throughblocks 65 afiiXed to I: the "downturned flange portion 63'of table256. 7

One" endof rod 64:is provided with a 'knob: 64a by means'of which itmay be conveniently grasped by: the hand and moved longitudinally (toward 1 the right in Figure3) against the. action oflspring '66 which-'encircles the rod.. :By such movement -notch--63a;'formed in flange63 of. the tiltingplatform may 'be' brought-into; alignment with pusher 62: mounted on carriage C,zthus permittingthe carriage to bemoved forwardly .withoutactuat- 1 ing the-tilting i plate .or table. aAn attendant can then easily: insert fresh piles. of paper in the severalcompartments, the: feeding. devices being easily accessible and the :tilting :table being out of theway. i .It':will ,beiobserved'from arr-inspection of Figure 5 that the pusher element 62 is mounteduupon .tthesforward endrof a-rod-68. Rod 68v-extends through alignedapertures formed in the parallel transversely extending members of the: carriage and is slidable relativelyito thecarriage inthese apertures. A helical compression spring- 69311- circling the'z-rod has one-end-bearingupon the carriageand the other end .up n' an annular member 10 adjustably secured to rod--; 68;;by a 7 set screw. '7 The :action of: spring 69 maybe varied T l-by'adjustingabutment- 'Hl longitudinally; of rod 6.8. 'Ihe:forward position of' the pusher element 62 may'bedeterminedzby'an adjustingsto memberlZ along the lengthof the rod forward movement of the rod and pusher element under :the influence of spring 69 being :terminatedzby contact of member 12 against the transversexmember '31 of-the carriage. e -It will beobserved from an inspection-of .Fig-

ures 1 and 2 that the forward :ends 'of thespile supporting members are equidistantly spaced from the-gathering station T or, mother words, the gathering station T comprises the axis of a theoretical cylinderofwhich the leading edges of sheets resting in the respective piles comprise 70 elements. Each leading edge, therefore; travels an-equal distance from its position in the pile to 'thegathering po'sition'and these edges, therefore, upon-reaching that positionparein sub- "stantial registry. "--'--'Ihe-'operator'-of the machine can therefore hardly fail to grasp the leading edges of all sheets for each operation of the machine and the set of sheets which is transferred to the jogging machine will be complete. If no jogging machine is available to secure a perfect registration of the set thus withdrawn, these sheets may be readily placed incomplete registration manually by the operator who will simply tap the corresponding .lower edges of the sheets of the set upon the table member 56 when that member is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure l. The feeding of a set of sheets from the machine can be accomplished quickly and certainly by simply pressing against the foot bar or treadle and, for

reasons previously set forth, the leading edges are brought certainly and accurately to the grasping zone regardless of thenature of the paper being fed or the atmospheric or other conditions which may exist in the space in which the machine is located, Themachine may of course be used in the collation of two or more sheets at each opera-,- tion, or a larger number, up to its capacity. If less than the maximum number of sheets are to be fed, certain of the feeding devices should be rendered inoperative in order that the sheet gripping elementsmay not be unduly worn by rubbing directly against the metallic sheet supporting shelves over which they move. This may be accomplished by the means illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. As shown in these figures a sheet feeding device may be rendered inoperative by inserting into the bin in which it islocated a member 80, preferably of sheet metal and having an elongated vertically disposed blade like main portion 80a and a horizontal minor portion or base 80b, portion 801) having integral therewith a flange .800. The forward margin of a pile supporting plate may thus be clamped between parts 802) and 80a and the device maintained in the position in which it is shown.

When so positioned a transverse arm 24 or 25 of the feeding element will rest and slide upon the horizontal'upper edge of part 80a and the rubber gripping elements maintained out of contact'with any stationary part as the machine operates. The member 80 may also be used to laterally confine a pile of sheets, the blade like portion 80a being disposed to one side of the sheet feeding element.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new-and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

. rection and thereafter returning the same to initial position preparatory to a second sheet feeding operation.

.2. ,In a collator, in combination, a plurality of superposed supports each adapted to support a pile of sheets, means for simultaneously feed- 1 ing, in a common direction, a sheet from each of such piles, and mechanism for supporting the superposed leading edges of a plurality of such sheets while such sheets are being fed, said mechanism including a'member disposedbelow said pile supports upon which the leading ends of the advancing sheets may rest, and means for advancing and retracting said member along a predetermined path of movement.

3. In a collator, in combination, a plurality of superposed supports each adapted to support a pile of sheets, means for simultaneously feeding,

in a common direction, a sheet from each of such piles, and mechanism for supporting the superposed leading edges of a plurality of such sheets while such sheets are being fed, said mechanism including a table disposed below said pile supports upon which the leading ends of the advancing sheets rest, and means for reciprocating the table along a fixed, generally horizontal path.

4. In a collator, in combination, a plurality of superposed supports each adapted to support a pile of sheets, means for simultaneously feeding, in a common direction, a sheet from'each of such piles, and mechanism for supporting the superposed leading edges of a, plurality of such sheets while such sheets are being fed, said mechanism including a member disposed below said pile supports upon which the leading ends of the advancing sheets may rest and actuating means for advancing said member and moving said sheet feeding means in sheet feeding direction.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the pile supports, at the'delivery ends thereof, are horizontally offset in the direction in which the sheets are fed therefrom so that the leading edges of sheets simultaneously fed from piles resting thereon are substantially coincident when disposed upon said member.

6. In a collator, in combination, a plurality of superposed supports each adapted to support a pile of sheets, means for simultaneously feeding, in a common direction, a sheet from each of such piles, and mechanism for supporting the superposed leading edges of a plurality of such sheets while such sheets are being fed, said mechanism including a member disposed below said pile supports upon which the leading ends of the advancing sheets may rest and actuating means for advancing said member and moving said sheet feeding means in sheet feeding direction, the said actuating means initiating the motion of the sheet feeding means in sheet feeding direction prior to initiating movement of the sheet supporting member in the same direction.

7. In a collator, in combination, a vertical series of supports for piles of paper, means for simultaneously feeding sheets from said piles, a

member disposed below said pile supports having a surface upon which the leading ends of sheets thus fed are received and by which they are supported, and mechanism for actuating said sheet feeding means and said memberin timed relationship so that, at about the end of the feeding operation, said member is caused to lift the ends of the sheets resting thereon to a position at which they may be simultaneously grasped.

8. In a collator, in combination, a vertical series of supports for piles of paper, means for simultaneously feeding sheets from said piles, a member having a surface upon which the leading ends of sheets thus fed are received and by which they are supported, said member being mounted for rocking movement about an axis adjacent the support for the lowermost pile, and mechanism for actuating said sheet feeding means and for rocking said member in timed relationship therewith so that, after the sheet ends have been deposited upon said member, they will be lifted to a position at which they may be simultaneously grasped.

9. In a collator, in combination, a vertical series of paper pile supports which includes upper and lower groups of such supports, a sheet feedin device movable over each pile, a member disposed intermediate said groups of supports and mounted for reciprocation in the direction in which said device moves when feeding sheets, for receiving the leading ends of sheets fed from the uppermost piles of the vertical series, a second member having a surface adapted to receive and support the leading ends of sheets from the lowermost piles of the vertical series, said member being mount-ed for movement in such manner as to raise and lower its sheet supporting surface, and mechanism for simultaneously actuating said sheet feeding devices, and actuating said members to bring together at a single station the leading edges of all sheets fed at one time.

10. In a collator, in combination, means for supporting a series of piles of paper in superposed relation, the uppermost piles of the series constituting a group and the remaining piles a lower group, and mechanism for simultaneously feeding sheets from said piles and bringing the leading edges thereof to a single station to be grasped, said mechanism including means movable in a generally vertical direction for lifting the leading edges of the sheets fed from the lowermost pile.

11. In a collator, in combination, means for supporting a series of piles of paper in superposed relation, the uppermost piles of the series constituting a group and the remaining piles a lower group, and mechanism for simultaneously feed- 1113 sheets from said piles and bringing the leading edges thereof to a single station to be grasped, said mechanism including means mounted for movement in a generally vertical direction upwardly from an initial station adjacent the lowermost pile supporting means, for elevating the leading endsof sheets of the lower group, and means for actuating said second mentioned means in timed relation to said sheet feeding means.

12. In a collator, in combination, means for supporting a series of piles of paper in superposed relation, the uppermost piles of the series constituting a group and the remaining piles a lower group, and mechanism for simultaneously feeding sheet from said piles and bringing the leading edges thereof to a single station to be grasped, said mechanism including means disposed intermediate said groups of supports for limiting downward movement of the sheets of the upper group and a separate means for elevating the leading ends of the sheets of the lower group.

NILS G. HERNBLAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,245 Fenner Aug. 11, 1885 1,167,214 Petersen Jan. 4, 1916 1,241,897 Ananson Oct. 2, 1917 1,370,660 Marcuson Mar. 8, 1921 1,432,890 Neely Oct. 24, 1922 1,443,698 Avery Jan. 30, 1923 1,870,443 Cumfer Aug. 9, 1932 2,399,584 Thomas Apr. 30, 1946 2,4 9,594 Druliner Sept- 21, 1948 

